Michigan State forward Branden Dawson came through with the game-sealing basket and on defense checking Julius Randle.Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

CHICAGO — Branden Dawson will be remembered for skying high with 5.7 seconds left to tip in the basket that clinched Michigan State's 78-74 victory over Kentucky on Tuesday night in the Champions Classic at the United Center.

"Denzel (Valentine) drove, and he drew two guys, he drew (Julius) Randle and (Willie) Cauley-Stein, and I was just at the right place at the right time,'' Dawson said. "The ball came off (the rim) and I made a tip-in. I had to time it, because I didn't want them to call basket interference. It was a great play for Denzel to draw two guys.''

But that was merely the final act of a splendid show from the versatile 6-foot-6 junior from nearby Gary, Ind., in the No. 2-ranked Spartans (2-0) victory over the No. 1 Wildcats (2-1).

Dawson -- who finished with eight points, a team-high nine rebounds and four steals -- made the most of his 34 minutes on offense and defense.

With all of Michigan State's bigs in foul trouble — Adreian Payne, Matt Costello and Alex Gauna all had four fouls — Dawson was asked to match up with Kentucky man-child Julius Randle, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound freshman who some consider the top prospect in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Randle's only basket the final three minutes came on a hook shot after Dawson and two other Spartans who had dropped down attempted to triple team him.

"Randle is a great player, definitely hungry and relentless to score on every possession,'' Dawson said.

Randle scored 27 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, but he also had eight turnovers -- some of them thefts by the opportunistic Dawson.

"They did adjust to that,'' Dawson said. "I just had to keep pushing and pushing myself tonight, I was definitely out of wind at the end, but Coach said he needed me.

"I played 34 minutes tonight. If that was my freshman or sophomore year, I probably would have passed out on the court. But getting in that extra cardio work and conditioning this summer, I was in great shape for his.''

Dawson said Michigan State is also well-prepared to handle the No. 1 ranking, which should come the Spartans' way after the win over Kentucky.

"There was already a target on us, and a lot of teams are going to want to knock us off like Indiana when they were No. 1 last year,'' Dawson said. "We can't let that No. 1 get to our heads, we can't get cocky, we have to keep playing as a team.''